BJP’s Karnataka crisis blows over, one more time

New Delhi/Bangalore: Bharatiya Janata Party’s central leadership has once again managed to temporarily ‘resolve’ the tussle in its Karnataka unit with nine ministers, who had resigned from the Sadananda Gowda cabinet, deciding to withdraw their resignations.

Announcing the decision to the press, one of the ‘rebel’ ministers said, “Political crisis was brewing in Karnataka for the last week. In-charge secretary Dharmendra Pradhan had come; we were able to convince him on prevalent political situation.”

“Party president Nitin Gadkari was in touch with BS Yeddyurappa and Jagadish Shettar. The party leadership has said that they will resolve the issue in 3-4 days,” he added.

“As per Yeddyurappa’s advice we have decided to give a free hand to the high command so that they resolve the issue amicably. We have decided to withdraw the resignation to create an amicable environment,” he said.

The high command has invited Shettar and other leaders for talks to Delhi, he informed the reporters.

The BS Yeddyurappa faction has been mounting pressure on the BJP leadership to appoint Jagadish Shettar as the state’s new Chief Minister after it became clear that Yeddurappa himself won’t be appointed as CM owing to the graft cases pending against him.

Importantly, incumbent DV Sadananda Gowda is also in Delhi today; he is expected to meet senior party leaders to discuss the political situation.

Yeddyurappa faction, yesterday, stepped up heat on the BJP leadership by setting a July 5 deadline for removing Gowda and replacing him with his nominee Jagadish Shettar.

The rebel faction has claimed support of more than 55 MLAs, 15 MLCs and eight MPs.

For the BJP central leadership, the power struggle in Karnataka has become a big embarrassment. Every time Yeddyurappa has upped the ante, efforts have been made to pacify him but this period is short lived.

In the 225-member Karnataka Assembly, BJP has a total strength of 120 and Yeddyurappa has been claiming the backing of around 70 MLAs.

Notwithstanding the muscle-flexing by the rebels, BJP sources in Delhi said a change of guard in Karnataka in the near future is unlikely. The party may look into their demand only after the Presidential poll on July 19, they said.